First-timers guide to Arches National Park

Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 arches in Utah. It's incredible how nature can craft these magnificent structures with the perfect combination of rock types, thick salt layers, and just the right amount of rainfall. Arches National Park is one of my top favorite parks that you don't see in other states or the world. Continue reading for a comprehensive guide to the top attractions when visiting Arches National Park.

When to visit Arches National Park

Arches National Park is accessible throughout the year, but the best time to visit is Spring and Fall. The summer heat feels too spicy to handle, and the winters get too uncomfortably cold. Regardless of when you come, always be sure to check the official park website for park updates and closures.

How to get to Arches National Park

Driving is inevitable, so you’re going to want to add this to your road trip bucket list. The closest airport is Salt Lake City and you’ll still want to factor in a 4-hour drive.

Upon arrival at Arches National Park, a $30 entrance fee for each private vehicle is requested. America the Beautiful passes are accepted here too.

How many days should you visit?

You can see everything in my Arches National Park guide in one day if you start early in the morning. Otherwise, 2 days also works if you want to take your time. We stayed 8 days in Moab, Utah to work remotely while exploring in the evening and on weekends. With additional time to explore, check out the top 10 things to do in Moab, Utah.

Things to do at Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

If you had to take one piece of advice from this blog, my #1 advice is to come to Delicate Arch in the morning near sunrise. Delicate Arch is the number one site that every visitor must-see, so expect it to get overly crowded. I’ve seen other visitors having to wait in long lines to take a picture of the Delicate Arch in the afternoon. Sunset is a nice time to see with the sun setting behind the arch, but expect hundreds of people to be there too. Keep in mind that this is a moderate hike that requires a steep cline to see the arch. Pay very close attention to the arrows on the trial because we ended going off the trail and hiking on a sketchy cliff just before reaching the Delicate Arch. The sketchy cliff was manageable, but there’s a better route so pay attention to the arrows.

• Distance: 3.4 miles

• Difficulty rating: Moderate

Devil’s Garden Trail

Devil’s Garden Trail leads you to 7 unique arches and can be classified as easy to moderate depending on how far you want to go. To see the whole shebang, expect some minor rock climbing, and overcoming your fear of heights.

• Distance: 4.9 miles to Double O Arch or 7.9 miles with Primitive Trail

• Difficulty rating: Moderate

  
  

Here are some of the popular arches along Devil’s Garden Trail.

Double O Arch

Landscape Arch

Navajo Arch

Partition Arch

Double Arch Trail

Let’s not confuse Double Arch and Double O Arch as the same because they are actually very different sights. Double Arch is my personal favorite because of the unique rock features and the height and massiveness of the formations. I would consider this more of a stroll, instead of a hike. Before you start, you see a holistic view of the rock formations looking like a parade of elephants! Visitors can climb up the rocks to get closer to the bottom of the arch, but they’ll need to do this with caution.

• Distance: 0.6 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

Windows Loop and Turret Arch Trail

Windows Loop and Turret Arch are next to each other and can be combined in one stop. If you’re tired of arches by now, this is the one to skip if you had to pick.

• Distance: 1.2 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is optional to skip because you easily see it along the route. If you decide to make a stop here, it offers a 0.3-mile walking path around Balanced Rock.

Stargazing at Arches National Park

Come back at night and bring your high-end cameras (your iPhones won’t be able to capture the night sky). You need pure darkness away from any sign of light pollution to see the starry night. If you need light, I suggest using a red light flashlight or red-light headlamp because any sign of white light makes the stargazing experience less effective. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to adjust your eyes to the darkness as well.

We went to the Balanced Rock Picnic Area for star gazing in October, and even saw bats flying around, but they are there for the bugs….not you, so don’t worry. Other suggested locations for stargazing to try are the Garden of Eden viewpoint, Panorama Point, or The Windows Section.

What to bring for night sky viewing:

• Red-light headlamp to preserve your night vision

• Layers: Desert temperatures drop sharply after sunset, even in summer

• GLORSIGN puffy outdoor blanket or outdoor chair for comfortable sky watching

• A star chart app such as Sky Map or Stellarium (free)

• Camera with manual settings for the Milky Way photography

Where to stay

Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park with lots of shops and restaurants. There’s a ton of construction going on in Moab when I visited in November 2020, as they are growing the town to accommodate for the increased tourism. Here are a few spots to consider by accommodation type:

• Luxury: Hoodoo Moab, a Hilton property - Fresh and modern hotel with a cute bar and relaxing patio.

• Standard: Hyatt Place Moab - Located near Delicate Arch and offers free parking.

• Budget-friendly: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Moab - We chose to stay at the La Quinta Inn to keep costs down during our week in Moab. The rooms were clean, and they offered complimentary breakfast daily. Plus, it was just a 15-minute drive to Arches National Park.

Related resources:

• Top 10 things to do in Moab, Utah

• Get prepared for your hiking trip with a customizable hiking essentials checklist.